COMMONWEALTH champ Lee McAllister has quit the jokes and wisecracks - to shape up for the biggest fight of his career.

McAllister lives life to the full after surviving a horror motorbike accident while on holiday in Crete in 2004 that nearly claimed his life at the age of 22.

He was warned by doctors he would likely never walk again - but McAllister defied the odds to resume his ring career.

The light-welterweight vowed to make the most of life after his brush with death - and is rarely seen without a grin on his face and a swagger in his step.

But the Aberdeen Assassin is deadly serious now he has a European title in his sights.

McAllister, 29, is preparing for a clash with champion Denis Shafikov at Aberdeen's Exhibition Centre on February 25.

He said: "This is probably the first time I've taken a fight seriously.

"In the past I've made do when it has come to sparring partners but it's important that I have the very best available.

"I went through a list of names with my manager Tommy Gilmour the other day, when I was in Glasgow for my medical, to ensure that nothing is left to chance. I have to be better prepared than ever for this fight because this is my big chance and I don't intend blowing it."

Gilmour says he has been pleasantly surprised by the way McAllister has wised up and how seriously he views his impending date with destiny.

He added: "I was genuinely taken aback and a little shocked by Lee's attitude.

"He is very much up for this fight and is totally switched on. Of course he is still behaving a little outrageously, as he always does, but he is also talking a lot of sense and expressing real concern that he produces a memorable performance.

"He is desperate to do well and is already talking about a possible opponent for his first defence.

"He's also delighted that we have managed to get this fight for Aberdeen.

"The sky is the limit because once you are European champion all sorts of doors open. You suddenly become a big draw - that was how Paul McCloskey got his world-title shot."

Such is the level of interest in the biggest bout ever staged in the northeast that only 600 of the 3,000 fight tickets remain unsold with nearly five weeks to go.